Argentine President in World Cup gaffe

The Albiceleste recorded their best display at the tournament since 1990, reaching the final, where they lost 1-0 to Germany on Sunday.

A day later, Fernandez received the squad in the country's capital of Buenos Aires, giving each of the disappointed players a consolatory hug.

"As you know I'm no soccer fan," she said. "I didn't see a single match, not even the one yesterday."

Fernandez added that she rang Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella after the game to congratulate him and the team as it felt like they had beaten Germany.

"That's how I felt and how 40 million Argentines felt too," she said.

Fernandez has since come under fire in Argentina for not watching any of the nation's World Cup games, with critics saying she has failed to capture the national mood.

"It sort of underscores that she lives in a world of her own more and more," political analyst Felipe Noguera is quoted as saying by Reuters.

"This has been a very positive month for the country and for the overall mood. And she's just not part of it."

Fernandez, who cannot run in next year's election, declined an invitation from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to attend Sunday's final, saying she was recovering from a sore throat. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the match and sat next to Rousseff at the Maracana.

Meanwhile, Argentina's World Cup homecoming party was cancelled due to transport concerns, according to the Argentine Football Association

The players had been expected to greet fans at Buenos Aires' Obelisk monument on Monday. However, festivities in the area from the night before were dampened as supporters clashed with riot police, with 120 people reportedly being detained.